Tag Archive for: Houston Public Works

City to Consider Approval of Development in Swamp While Keeping Drainage Study Secret

1/19/26 – On Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 2:30 PM the Houston Planning Commission may consider approval of a proposed half-billion development in swampland. Specifically, Roman Arrow LLC (AKA Romerica), the developer, has requested plat approval with a variance for a new subdivision between Kingwood Lakes and the Barrington.

Draft Agenda Item 89 lists the project name as River Grove, but drawings within the variance request call it Kingwood Marina.

City Appeals FOIA Request to Attorney General

The Planning and Development Department appealed my Freedom of Information Act request for the developer’s drainage study to the Texas Attorney General. That means the public may not be able to review the drainage plans before the Planning Commission rules on plat approval. Worse, the public may never get to see the drainage study.

Marbet Alonzo of the City Planning and Development Department said, “The document you requested is a third-party document and cannot be released at this time. We have submitted a request to the Attorney General’s Office for a ruling. Once a determination is made and the document is eligible for release, we will provide it promptly.”

Approving plans before the public has had a chance to review all relevant documents highlights serious transparency and procedural issues.

Bob Rehak

You may submit public comments by sending an email to speakercomments.pc@houstontx.gov, at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Reference 2025-2266 River Grove GP in the title of your email.

Transparency and Procedural Issues

In my opinion, the only honorable thing to do in this case is to defer a decision until after the attorney general has ruled on release of the study, and the public has had time to review and prepare comments. If the attorney general allows the drainage plans to remain secret, then the City should deny permits.

Page 158 of the agenda shows that consideration may be deferred to a future date. However, the MLK holiday disrupted the Planning Commission’s normal publication schedule. So, I’m still looking at a DRAFT agenda. However, public comments must be submitted 24 hours before the meeting. Accordingly, I’m publishing this post today, so that people can email comments Tuesday before the deadline on Wednesday.

Rehak’s Concerns

To be fair, my concerns go beyond street layouts. I have been photographing this property for years. I started when Romerica first proposed building 50 story high-rises in the floodplain of the San Jacinto West Fork on another portion of their property south of the Barrington.

But I’ve also kept a close eye on the portion of the property north of Barrington. The photos below show some of the issues.

Roman Arrow land after two inches of rainfall in previous month.
Looking E. Barrington on R. Roman Arrow property upper left. Photo taken on 5/3/24.
One day later from opposite direction looking W. Roman Arrow property is right of upper center.
Romerica elevation profile
USGS National Map shows that Roman Arrow land (center) averages 7 feet lower than Barrington (Bottom).
Roman Arrow/Romerica Wetlands shown in green both north and south of Barrington (center)

Given that current floodplain maps show the entire Roman Arrow property in the 100-year floodplain, they will not be able to bring in fill to elevate the homes and hotel they plan to build there. They will have to excavate dirt from their property or elevate structures on stilts.

Romerica/Roman Arrow land in center; see above. Aqua=100-year floodplain. Brown=500 year. Cross-hatch=floodway of West Fork.

Note the date on the map above: 2007. When new flood maps are released, floodplains and floodways are expected to expand by 50-100%.

What Do They Plan to Build?

The developers have said they hope to build the development in two phases.

Phase One includes a 297,600-square-foot Fairmont Hotel with 400 rooms and 90 condominium residences.

Phase Two includes another 226,085-square-foot hotel with 37 8,611-square-foot villas, each on one third acre lots.

They plan to build the roads up to 60 feet – 13 feet above swamp level and 5 feet higher than the roads in Barrington.

Pedestrian pathways would be elevated to 71 feet – 11 feet above the roads.

The hotels would top out 65 feet above ground level. But the first residential floor of the condominiums would start at 65 feet and rise two stories.

They claim ground level will be 53 feet – 7 feet below the road level.

It’s all very confusing. That’s why we need to see the drainage plans. Where will the fill come from? Do they plan to build on stilts? Will structures and fill impede the flow of the floodway when new flood maps are released?

They can’t bring fill into the 100-year floodplain. And excavating it from land that’s already underwater won’t help mitigate increased flood potential.

Phase II Hotel
Phase II Condo

Third Time Around

This is the third concept that Romerica/Roman Arrow developers have pitched for this property.

  • The first was 25- to 50-story high-rises south of the Barrington with underground parking next to the floodway of the West Fork.
  • Then they pitched a series of homes on stilts under the name Orchard Seeded Ranches. That quietly fell off the radar.
  • Now this.

The land previously belonged to developer Ron Holley who fought the City for 20 years for the right to build on it.

Many have conjectured whether these developers are trying to raise money for the development via EB-5 visas. The developers are foreign nationals and are shielding their Texas operating companies through a series of approximately 30 shell companies at last count.

EB-5 visas give preferential consideration for green cards to foreigners and their families who invest $800,000 to a million dollars or more in American infrastructure projects that create jobs.

I have no evidence that that is their plan. Neither can I find any evidence that they have actually completed any developments in the U.S. under the names Romerica or Roman Arrow.

A web search for Roman Arrow LLC turns up lawsuits brought by City of Houston, Harris County and Lone Star College District for delinquent taxes. Humble ISD filed another separate tax lawsuit.

Neither Romerica nor Roman Arrow appears to have an active website – something that seems strange for a company claiming that this will be a half-billion project.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/19/2026

3065 Days since Hurricane Harvey

The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.

Before-After Pics of 2024 Tree Lane Bridge Repairs

11/3/24 – The latest round of repairs to the understructure of the Tree Lane Bridge in Kingwood has been completed.

In recent years, flooding, erosion from severe storms, stream migration, and insufficiently mitigated upstream development had jeopardized the integrity of the bridge next to Bear Branch Elementary. Approximately 600 children attend Grades K through 5 at the school and dozens of school buses routinely cross over the bridge every school day.

Before Photos

The four pictures below show the starting point.

Tree Lane Bridge during May 2024 flood
Imelda flood almost overtopped the bridge and backed water up. Photo by Chris Bloch.
Tree Lane Bridge Before Start of Round 2 Repairs
Looking upstream at downstream side of the bridge. Water pressure created a jetting effect that undermined the support structure and eroded the area downstream. Downcutting exposed water line and utility cable.
Closer shot shows the power of moving water. Storm drain outfall (right) was pinched off by debris that broke away.
Tree Lane Bridge damage
Stormwater had also eaten away the concrete bed that tied supports together.

After Photos

Compare the next five shots taken on 11/3/24.

Upstream is left. Note how stream meander over time has Bens Branch approaching the bridge from a 45 degree angle now.

Meandering streams can impact bridges in a number of ways, including:

  • Altering flow characteristics: A meander at the upstream of a bridge can change the flow characteristics at the bridge’s inlet and outlet. 
  • Reducing bridge capacity: A meander can reduce the amount of water a bridge can pass during a flood. 
  • Creating channel instability: Channel instability near a bridge can increase the risk of bridge failure during a hydrologic event. 

Meandering streams are characterized by their sinuous, snake-like channels. Meanders move sideways and downstream over time, which can create challenges for maintaining bridges and roads.

However, these repairs should improve safety …. at least for a while.

Looking upstream. Note new storm drain outfalls surrounded by concrete on the left and right.
Note how the side slopes change from 45º to 90º about three feet above the bottom of the channel.

The stream bed was previously at where the wall angle changes. The area between the 90º walls represents additional carrying capacity (conveyance) for the channel under the bridge.

Also note, in the picture above, the addition of at least five new rounded piers to increase support for the bridge’s road bed. The old piers are square.

Storm sewer outfall is now at an angle.
Same on the opposite side.

According to ChatGPT, “Storm sewer outfalls are often angled when they enter a stream to help manage the flow of water and sediment, reduce erosion, and improve the overall stability of the stream bank.”

Also note in this shot by Chris Bloch how contractors hydromulched slopes and areas disturbed by construction.

Hydromulching should reduce erosion from water flowing over the top of the channel bank.

Thanks to Houston Public Works and the City of Houston for these repairs. I’ll check to see how these improvements work in future storms.

For More Information

For a history of the project and to see additional photos, see these previous posts:

10/12/24 Tree Lane Bridge Repairs Nearing Completion

8/11/24 Tree Lane Bridge Repairs Finally Starting Again, Hopefully for Last Time

6/28/24 Tree Lane Project Supposed to be Done Today, But Hasn’t Started

4/9/24 City Begins Tree Lane Bridge Repairs

2/21/24 CoH Public Works Kicks Off Tree Lane Bridge Rehab Project

11/28/23 Tree Lane Bridge over Bens Branch Still Standing

6/12/23 Flood Damage To Tree Lane Bridge Over Ben’s Branch Accelerates

1/29/23 Tree Lane Bridge over Ben’s Branch Damaged…Again

3/21/22 How Insufficiently Mitigated Upstream Development Imposes Taxation without Representation on Downstream Residents

3/31/20 City Completes Repairs on Tree Lane Bridge, But Concerns Remain

2/29/20 Tree Lane Bridge over Ben’s Branch: Before and After Repairs

12/2/19 Tree Lane Bridge vs. Power of Moving Water

Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/3/24

2623 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Tree Lane Bridge Repairs Nearing Completion

10/12/24 – According to the minutes of latest Houston Public Works progress meeting Tree Lane Bridge repairs over Bens Branch were 57% complete as of 10/1/24 with 80% of the budget consumed. However, the contractor has completed a significant amount of additional work since then.

The million dollar project began in February. At the time, Public works predicted it would be complete by summer 2024. Unfortunately, that didn’t quite work out.

Status of Tree Lane Bridge Repairs

Completed as of mid-October:

  • Work under half of the bridge
  • Three of the four wing walls on either side of the Bens Branch, upstream and downstream of the bridge
  • Placement of rip rap next to the two eastern wing walls
  • Additional pilings/supports under both east and west sides of the bridge
  • A new storm-drain outfall on the southeast side

Not yet started:

  • Upstream work on the northwest wing wall
  • Soil grading (change order still pending)
  • Clean up
  • Reseeding

Still not moved:

  • Several pipes and cables

It’s unclear at this time whether the utilities are holding up any additional work, or whether they even have plans to move their property.

Downcutting of the stream bed through erosion exposed the pipe and cable, which used to be buried.

Pictures taken 10/12/24

In the progress meeting, the contractor estimated completion of Tree Lane Bridge repairs during the first week in November. The pictures below show the status of the work as of 10/12/24.

Wide shot of work to date.
A new, concrete bed has been poured to reduce the rate of downcutting by the stream and protect the piers. Note, however, that it only extends halfway under the bridge so far.
SE wing wall, new storm drain outfall and rip rap.
SW wing wall and new outfall
The four round pilings are new and will provide additional support for the bridge. Similar supports have been placed on the opposite side. Look closely in picture above.
Water pipe and cable still have not been moved.
Note new rip rap to the right of the outfall. Rip-rap (the concrete chunks) reduces the velocity of concentrated, flowing water and therefore erosion.
NW wing wall is complete, but new concrete bed under north side of bridge has not yet been started.
Neither has the NW wing wall been started.

Pictures Taken Earlier

Chris Bloch, a Bear Branch Trail Association board member and local flood fighter, took the three Tree Lane Bridge repair pictures below.

Work in progress on new pilings on 10/3/24. Original bottom of stream bed was approximately three feet higher than current level, as you can see from the concrete still clinging to one of the old pilings.

Luckily, we have been having ideal construction weather since Beryl in early July. The mild drought has kept flow in the channel low, allowing work under the bridge to proceed safely.

Will These Repairs Hold?

Additional upstream development has increased the flow in Bens Branch in recent years. The bridge stood for more than 40 years without problems. However, this is the third set of repairs since 2020.

The current repairs appear more substantial than previous ones. But if the amount of water coming downstream continues to increase, even these repairs won’t last long. Water routinely comes up to the bridge deck.

Photo by Chris Bloch of Tree Lane Bridge during TS Imelda.

One cannot overstate the potential danger. Bear Branch Elementary is next to the bridge. More than 600 students attend the school and dozens of school buses routinely cross over the bridge every school day.

Power of Moving Water

For a history of the project and to see what damage to the bridge looked like before repairs started, see these previous posts:

8/11/24 Tree Lane Bridge Repairs Finally Starting Again, Hopefully for Last Time

6/28/24 Tree Lane Project Supposed to be Done Today, But Hasn’t Started

4/9/24 City Begins Tree Lane Bridge Repairs

2/21/24 CoH Public Works Kicks Off Tree Lane Bridge Rehab Project

11/28/23 Tree Lane Bridge over Bens Branch Still Standing

6/12/23 Flood Damage To Tree Lane Bridge Over Ben’s Branch Accelerates

1/29/23 Tree Lane Bridge over Ben’s Branch Damaged…Again

3/21/22 How Insufficiently Mitigated Upstream Development Imposes Taxation without Representation on Downstream Residents

3/31/20 City Completes Repairs on Tree Lane Bridge, But Concerns Remain

2/29/20 Tree Lane Bridge over Ben’s Branch: Before and After Repairs

12/2/19 Tree Lane Bridge vs. Power of Moving Water

Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/12/2024

2601 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Flood-Control, Water-Supply Dam Differences Help Explain Delay on Lake Houston Gates

9/29/24 – When talking about using the Lake Houston Dam to help control flooding, one often hears experts say, “That’s not a flood-control dam. That’s a water-supply dam.” So, what’s the difference? And why does it make a difference?

The purpose of the dam influences its design, operation and management. An insider familiar with the effort to add more gates to the Lake Houston Dam said last week that engineers at both Houston Public Works and the Coastal Water Authority have resisted trying to modify a water-supply dam for flood control.

This is not the only reason this project has taken so long to get off the ground. But it helps explain why new, higher capacity Lake Houston gates are just now going into final design – 2588 days after the storm that made the need abundantly clear.

To put that in perspective, 2588 days is almost twice the number of days that it took to win World War II.

Conflicting Purposes, Designs

The primary purpose of a flood-control dam is to reduce flood risk by controlling the flow of water downstream during heavy rains. They accomplish this by temporarily holding back the flow of water. They then release it later in a controlled fashion to smooth out peaks and reduce flood damage.

To mitigate flooding, flood-control dams:

  • Often have lower water levels under normal conditions to accommodate sudden influxes of water.
  • Have large spillways and gates to rapidly release water when needed.
  • Are designed with a large storage capacity relative to the expected flood volumes.
  • Are sometimes kept partially empty to ensure sufficient space for incoming floodwaters.
  • Have more robust construction to withstand sudden large inflows and outflows.

On the other hand, the primary purpose of water-supply dams is to store water for human consumption (drinking, bathing, irrigation, industry, etc.).

To ensure consistent supply, a water-supply dam:

  • Prioritizes a consistent water level to ensure a reliable supply of water throughout the year, even during droughts.
  • Is usually kept at higher levels.
  • Stores water over longer periods.
  • Is managed to ensure sufficient supply throughout the year, with a focus on maximizing storage before dry seasons.

In summary, a flood-control dam is designed and managed to mitigate floods by managing excess water. However, a water-supply dam aims to store water for human use.

In practice, these extremes aren’t quite as mutually exclusive as the terms might imply.

Seasonal Management and Its Alternatives

Seasonal management strategies can help bridge the gap between the two. For instance, operators often manage both types of dams seasonally so they have more storage space during rainy seasons when flood risk spikes.

The SJRA adopted a seasonal lake-lowering strategy for several years after Harvey. But because of political pushback from Lake Conroe residents, the strategy was abandoned after several years.

“Stop the Drop” protesters pack an SJRA board meeting in December 2019.

SJRA now uses another hybrid strategy called “active storm management.” “Active Storm Management” seeks to manage lake levels by releasing water based on real-time weather forecasts to manage reservoir levels more effectively.

Other operators use a similar strategy known as FIRO (Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations). Advanced forecasting models predict inflows and adjust dam releases preemptively.

Lake Houston, Lake Conroe Both Water-Supply Dams

Both Lake Conroe and Lake Houston are water-supply dams. But Lake Houston, built in the early 1950s, has a 3160-foot, fixed-height spillway with four small gates capable of releasing only 10,000 cubic feet per second (CFS) combined. Clearly, engineers prioritized consistent water level over flood mitigation when designing this dam. The small gates make it difficult and time consuming to release water before it reaches the level of the spillway.

According to the Houston Public Works Drinking Water Operations Group, Lake Houston supplies water to 2.2 million people.

Lake Conroe, built in 1973, has five large gates capable of releasing 150,000 CFS. It was designed as an alternate water supply for the City of Houston. The City financed its construction and owns two thirds of the water in the lake.

Lake Conroe has nothing comparable to the fixed-height spillway on Lake Houston.

3160-foot concrete and steel spillway on Lake Houston

Compared to spillway above, gates on Lake Houston can release only a small amount. But the spillway can release more than Lake Conroe. See below. It just can’t release that much before a storm.
Lake Houston Dam during Harvey. The wall of water flowing out of the lake was 11 feet higher than the spillway.

During the peak of Harvey, an estimated 425,000 CFS went over the Lake Houston Spillway – 5 times the average flow of Niagara Falls.

In contrast, Lake Conroe released about 80,000 CFS from its gates during Harvey. So why the push to add more gates to Lake Houston?

Gates Key to Hybrid Strategy

Simple. Bigger gates are key to both water conservation and Active Storm Management. Right now, Lake Houston’s gates are so small that lowering the lake significantly can take days. During that time, storms can veer away.

That long lead time creates uncertainty that jeopardizes what Houston Public Works and the Coastal Water Authority see as their primary mission – providing water for 2.2 million people.

We just can’t create extra storage capacity in Lake Houston fast enough with the existing gates.

Why is Design Taking So Long?

But with more, larger gates, Lake Houston could release enough water in hours to create extra storage capacity. And operators would have confidence that water would not be wasted. So why are the gates taking so long?

Design of more gates for Lake Houston has just now started. Using Harvey as a starting point, we are now almost at twice the amount of time that it took to win World War II.

It’s hard to believe that if everyone agreed with the need for more flood gates, it would have taken this long to start design.

In that regard, I have heard of pushback from both Houston Public Works and Coastal Water Authority. The pushback had to do with the mission of the organizations: to supply water. They just didn’t want to risk wasting it in case we encountered drought.

But our two backup water sources (Lake Conroe and Lake Livingston) combined have 15 times the volume of Lake Houston. So the City probably won’t run short anytime soon.

Flood Mitigation Not In CWA Mission

The Coastal Water Authority, which is the City’s contract operator for Lake Houston, does not even mention “flooding” on its website. That’s right. CWA doesn’t mention the word in its mission statement, guiding principles, strategies, or tactics. They do, however, mention “pumps” 15 times on their Strategic-Plan page. That should give you some idea of their priorities: water supply.

Hopefully, Mayor John Whitmire’s recent appointment of former State Representative Dan Huberty to the Coastal Water Authority Board will help the CWA see Lake Houston from more than one perspective. Huberty has advocated for the gates since Harvey.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/29/24

2588 Days since Hurricane Harvey

The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.

Tree Lane Bridge Repairs Finally Starting Again…Hopefully For Last Time

8/11/24 – Tree Lane Bridge repairs are finally starting…again. By my count, this will make the fifth time if you include the 2020 and 2022 repairs that each failed within months, and two aborted starts earlier this year. Hopefully, Houston Public Works will complete the repairs this time and they will stick.

Third Round of Repairs in Five Years

The current rehab project is the third in five years. That speaks to the quality of engineering, contracting and supervision in Houston Public Works. See the list of my articles about Tree Lane Bridge problems below. I’ve listed them in reverse chronological order.

6/28/24 Tree Lane Project Supposed to be Done Today, But Hasn’t Started

4/9/24 City Begins Tree Lane Bridge Repairs

2/21/24 CoH Public Works Kicks Off Tree Lane Bridge Rehab Project

11/28/23 Tree Lane Bridge over Bens Branch Still Standing

6/12/23 Flood Damage To Tree Lane Bridge Over Ben’s Branch Accelerates

1/29/23 Tree Lane Bridge over Ben’s Branch Damaged…Again

3/21/22 How Insufficiently Mitigated Upstream Development Imposes Taxation without Representation on Downstream Residents

3/31/20 City Completes Repairs on Tree Lane Bridge, But Concerns Remain

2/29/20 Tree Lane Bridge over Ben’s Branch: Before and After Repairs

12/2/19 Tree Lane Bridge vs. Power of Moving Water

Unexplained Delays, Changes

Construction of the most recent repair project was to have started in February this year. But contractors finally showed up 1.5 months later in early April. They did some tree trimming, parked their equipment and disappeared.

The project was to have been completed by 6/28 this year. But on 6/28, the job site was vacant, except for the equipment which had been parked months earlier. The biggest visible change: additional erosion, most likely due to the May flood, threatened a giant excavator that had been parked close to Bens Branch.

Erosion creeped toward parked excavator. Photo taken 6/17/24.
Erosion creeped toward parked excavator. Photo taken 6/17/24.

In June, I asked about delays and was informed by the project manager that they were waiting on unspecified utilities to move newly discovered utility lines.

In fairness, on 6/17/24, I did observe a utility crew burying cable in the vicinity. Public Works said on 7/2/24 that “all utility relocates have been completed.” However, as of 8/11, a water line and a cable are still clearly visible at the bottom of the creek and in the way of the project. See below.

Photo taken 8/11/24, six months after project start. Those exposed lines show up in photos taken in 2019.

The announcement of the most recent delay was even more vague. It announced “changes” due to “unforeseen circumstances” as the cause. I emailed and went online to find specifics. But not a clue!

Was it weather? Management? Engineering? Priorities? More utility conflicts? War in Ukraine? The school lunch menu?

Are the contractors even working off the right plans? The plans currently posted on Engage Houston have three different dates on them: 2018, 2022 and 2023. But I see nothing dated 2024. What delayed the project six months?

Contractors Return Just in Time for Back-to-School Traffic

After equipment sat idle virtually all summer, contractors returned to the job site just in time for the start of school. The bridge sits next to Bear Branch Elementary, which more than 600 students attend.

Last week, I made the mistake of trying to cross the bridge at 8AM. After project managers promised that construction activity would NOT interfere with school traffic, there the contractors were…with traffic at a standstill and backed up five blocks.

Later that afternoon, I received an email from the project manager. This email announced that the project would finish in “Fall 2024.” I would remind you that technically Fall lasts through December 21. That’s more than 4 months away. And more than 4 years after the 2020 repairs. But who ‘s counting?

Photos as of 8/11/2024

I took the photos below this afternoon so you can see how much progress has been made since February.

Looking N from S side of bridge at work on E wall.

Note all the construction debris piled in the middle of the creek, waiting for more heavy rain.

Looking N.
Looking S from N side of bridge at W side work.

Vegas is taking odds on whether Public Works will be able to live within its $909,000 estimate for this job.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/11/24

2539 Days since Hurricane Harvey

The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.

Entergy Makes Some Northpark Progress, but Significant Issues Remain

Entergy has made more progress on the Northpark Drive expansion project in the last two weeks than in the previous four years. But despite what you see in the photos below, significant issues remain to clear the way for the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood.

Some Progress, But…

Last week, Entergy, a $4 billion company in Texas, erected nine new power poles outside of the City’s right of way. This week, their contractor, Primoris Services, started the process of stringing wire. That’s good news. Really!

But unseen obstacles could still delay the project significantly. For instance:

  • Who will pay for moving Entergy’s ground-mounted transformer and associated power lines near the Exxon Station at US59? Entergy reportedly still wants the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority (LHRA) to pay for upgrading and moving the transformer and buried cables. LHRA insists that’s an illegal ask because it would constitute a gift of public funds.
  • More power poles remain near Loop 494 that will be difficult to move because of conflicts with new storm drains.
  • Entergy must tunnel under rail tracks.
  • Entergy reportedly still refuses to commit to completion dates for moving its equipment.

Will Entergy Beat Union Pacific?

If Entergy does not resolve issues near the railroad tracks before Union Pacific crews arrive to install new signals and improve the road bed, the project could be delayed years.

Union Pacific reportedly has two crews that rotate through 27 states handling such issues. If we miss them this year, the Northpark project goes to the back of a very long line, according to Ralph De Leon, Northpark project manager for LHRA.

Entergy has already blown a City deadline to move its equipment by March 8. So they have already missed a 30-day deadline by 42 days. But according De Leon, Entergy still refuses to commit to any completion dates.

Ray of Hope

According to Houston Public Works (HPW), Entergy has assigned a new project manager and team to the project. This could be a sign of good things to come.

HPW Senior Division Manager Patrick Nguyen says the City is working with Entergy to resolve easement issues that could result in construction delays and cost escalation. Mayor John Whitmire, who is committed to seeing the project through, has reportedly asked Nguyen to act as an arbitrator.

In an email received today, Nguyen said that “Entergy has assigned a new project manager along with a team to the project.” While diplomatically expressing hope, he did not elaborate further.

Progress Last Week

All nine poles erected last week had pulleys and rope or cables threaded through them when I took these photos today. According to one expert I talked to, crews will use the rope or cables to “pull wire.”

Close up (top left) of cables/ropes and pulleys that will be used to pull new electrical wires from pole to pole.

Compare old and new poles in lower left. Once wire is pulled to a pole, it will be attached to the tip of the insulator.

Moving the poles farther from the street will create room for a six lane bridge plus two turn lanes on each side of the bridge (to meet TXDoT requirements).

LHRA first notified Entergy to move its equipment in 2020. Entergy still won’t commit to a completion date.

The mess at 494

Other Northpark News

Contractors are smoothing out the dirt placed over the culverts between the Kingwood Diversion Ditch and Russell Palmer Road.

Looking west toward Kingwood Diversion Ditch from over Russell Palmer Road

Northpark will expand inwards. Contractors will pour two lanes of concrete in the dirt-covered area above. If I read the schedule correctly, paving in the area above could start within the next two weeks.

West of Russell Palmer (below), contractors buried almost another hundred yards of 6’x8′ culvert last week. Weather permitting, and if they can keep up that same rate of progress, they should be to the railroad tracks in another three months or so.

Looking west along Northpark. Last week, culvert crews were barely past the Shipleys Donut sign the lower right.

However, the culvert will not go all the way to the tracks down the median. As it approaches the point where the bridge starts to rise, it will veer to the right and go under the turn lanes where Entergy is moving back its poles.

For More Information

For more information about Northpark expansion, visit the project pages of the LHRA/Tirz 10 website. Or see these posts on ReduceFlooding:

Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/19/24

2425 Days since Hurricane Harvey

The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.

West Lake Houston Parkway Repaving Starts October 1

This is a off-topic, but it affects most of this website’s readers in Kingwood, Atascocita and Humble. Houston Public Works will start replacing nine concrete panels on West Lake Houston Parkway beginning Thursday, October 1. All are on north bound lanes between Life Storage and the Lake Houston YMCA. Weather permitting, Public Works should complete the work by October 22.

From October 1-22, Houston Public Works will replace nine concrete panels on West Lake Houston Parkway in the area between the two red lines.

Time of Day for Construction

Construction activities will take place Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Flagmen and orange traffic cones will help with traffic flow through the construction zones. The project will require one lane closure. Two-way traffic will remain at all times.

Businesses and residents will have access to driveways and sidewalks at all times, but may experience an increase in noise levels due to trucks and equipment.

For More Information

The cost of the project: $38,605. Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin’s Council District Service Funds will pay for the improvements.

For more information, please contact Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin’s office at (832) 393-3008 or districte@houstontx.gov.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/28/2020 with thanks to Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin

1126 Days after Hurricane Harvey